Gas Lift

Types of Gas Lift Systems

Continuous – Mainly used for the production of oil.
Intermittent – Used for the removal of slugs fluid in oil and gas wells.
Commonly used to de water gas wells.

Open systems, The tubing and annulus are open to each other, no
packer is used.

Semi closed system, The tubing and annulus are connected only
through the gas lift valves, packer is used.

Closed system, A standing valve is set in the tubing, closing off flow
from the tubing to the formation.

Gas Injection Rates

There are four significant gas injection rates

1) Injection rate of no flow – the amount of gas that is injected

is insufficient to lift the fluid.

2) Injection rate of maximum efficiency – the minimum

volume of gas is required to lift a barrel of fluid.

3) Injection rate of maximum flow – the maximum production

is achieved.

4) Injection rate of no flow due to excess gas – the friction of

the gas prevents fluid from entering the tubing.
Limitations of Continuous and Intermittent gas Lift

Liquid output for continuous is 200 to 20,000 bbls per day and less
than 500 bbls per day for intermittent.

A Productivity Index of > .45 bbls/day/psi for continuous and < .45
for intermittent lift.

The intermittent lift is the only method possible for good producers
with very low bottom hole pressures.

Injection GLR of 50 to 250 ft3 /bbl for 1000 ft of lift for continuous
and for intermittent it is 250 to 300 ft3/bbl for 1000 ft of lift.
Well Characteristics that effect behavior of producing well
1) Bottom hole pressure
2) Productivity Index
3) Formation gas oil ratio
4) Water cut
5) Depth
6) Size of the tubulars
7) Type of producing mechanisms

Equipment Characteristics
1) Back pressure held on the formation
2) Gas consumption

Four Categories of Wells and systems

High PI and High BHP cont. open and semi open
High PI and Low BHP cont. int. closed
Low PI and High BHP cont. int. semi and closed
Low PI and Low BHP int. closed
Gas Lift Valves

Classification by Applications

Gas lift valves have 2 pressures acting to open the valve, the injected gas
pressure and the production pressure. If the injected gas is the main factor in
controlling the valve it is called an injection pressure operated valve. In this
cased the injected gas is in contact with the bellows (largest area of
influence). The other type is when the production fluid is in contact with the
bellows, production pressure or fluid controlled valve.

Continuous Flow valves

Valves used for continuous flow should throttle the gas throughput. The
injected gas volume is controlled from the surface.

Intermittent Lift
Intermittent lift requires a large volume of gas for a short period of time,
therefore the valve should fully open rapidly and closed rapidly.
Basic Valve Designs

Unbalanced Pressure Charged Valve

This valve uses a nitrogen charged dome as the loading element to
cause the valve to close.

Unbalanced Spring Valve

This valve uses a spring as the loading element to cause the valve to
close. The advantage here is that there is no temperature effects to consider
when setting the valves opening pressure. The force of the spring is given in
psi and is known as the Spring Pressure Effect.

Combination of Charged and Spring Valve.

This unbalanced valve has a charged dome and a spring to supply the
closure force for the valve. A lower spring effect is the advantage here.

The pilot Valve.

A large port with a close control over the valve spread. There is a
control valve in combination with the main valve. When the control vavle
opens it causes the main valve to open and let the injected gas into the
tubing. |By having smaller ports on the control valve a better control can be
maintain on the opening and closing of the main valve that has a large port.
These valves are very good for intermittent flow systems.
 Design of a Continuous-Flow System
Graphical method

1) On graph paper set the y-axis to depth and the x to pressure.

2) Plot the bottom hole pressure point at depth, using the static gradient of
the fluid plot a pressure vs depth point up the hole. Connect these point
and extend to the y-axis, this is the static gradient line.
3) Using the PI of the well plot the pwf for the desired production rate, from
this point draw a line that is parallel to the static gradient line. This is the
flowing gradient line.
4) Calculate the casing pressure at mid depth of the well. Draw a line from
the surface casing pressure on the top of the graph through this point.
Where this line intersects the flow gradient line is the depth that the
casing and tubing pressures are equal.
5) Assume a Δp across the valve of 100 psi, find the depth that has a 100 psi
difference in these 2 lines, and that is the depth that the valve is set.
6) To the side on the graph plot the temperature gradient by connecting the
surface temperature to the bottom hole temperature. This will aid in
calculating the rack pressures for the valves.
7) Calculate the position of the unloading valves as before, using the closing
pressures.
8) Calculate the pvo @ 60oF as before.